CT Legislators introduce Legacy ban, Yale Opposes
A bill has been introduced by Connecticut state legislators who are seeking to ban legacy admissions in both public and private universities. Legacy admission refers to a process by which prospective students with familial ties to a specific college or university may be given extra consideration during admissions. This process has been a hot topic of debate in recent years, with advocates on both sides testifying on behalf of their cause.
At a February 29 public hearing, held by the legislature’s joint Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, Yale and seven other universities testified against the bill. Yale’s Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid, Jeremiah Quinlan, testified against the proposed bill for over an hour. In a statement, Quinlin wrote, “A university may make a voluntary decision to forgo consideration of legacy status in the application process, but a Connecticut state law dictating that decision for independent colleges and universities would be unprecedented and would invite future legislatures to impose their own views on who should be admitted in ways that threaten academic freedom.”
Quinlin is not alone in his beliefs that the state should not be allowed to dictate admission considerations. Other opponents of the bill echoed their belief that the State Assembly would be overstepping their power by passing such a law.
State Representative Gary Turco, who is in favor of the bill, noted that many of his colleagues were questioning this very idea. He stated that while many were in favor of the bill, at this point, it is still up in the air which way the majority will vote.
Proponents of the ban argue that Legacy Admissions create an uneven playing field, providing a significant advantage for some students. They claim that these advantages contradict the commitment to diversifying campuses that many of the universities, especially Ivies, claim to support.
At the hearing, several Yale students and alumni, as well as multiple collectives and student groups, testified in favor of the bill. They noted that, while diversity is growing at Yale, that growth is too slow to show a significant impact within the student body.
The students and student groups who testified were quick to point out that they are not attacking the legacy students on campus, but rather, they are pressuring Yale to view Legacy Admissions as incompatible with the university's own admissions policies, which claim to emphasize the merits of prospective students.
An exact date for the vote has not yet been set. However, a vote is expected in the upcoming weeks. If the bill passes, it will go into effect on July 1.
This is an ongoing story. We will keep you updated with any breaking news as it becomes available, so check back!
